Tape feeding device



TAPE FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJL avwe/nto'c HARRY H. LY/V/V.

$51 M Gummy April 25, 1933. LYNN 1,905,481

TAPE FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGMZ.

avwwt oz HARRY H. LY/VN.

April 25, 1933.

H. H. LYNN TAPE FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1928 FIG.6.

v lmrv. '58

FIGEQ }no-v s'a awoentoz an km 6 from e110 HARRY hf LY/V/V.

Patented pr. 25, 1933 HARRY H. LYNN, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 TRANS-L'UX DAYLIGHT PICTURE SCREEN CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE TAPE FEEDING DEVICE Application filed June 20,

This invention relates to tape feeding devices, such for' example as may be used for feeding tape from stock tickers through quotation projecting apparatus.

The objects of this invention include the provision of dependable tape feeding apparatus normally controlled directly from the stock ticker mechanism and adapted to advance the tape without jerky motion and without placing the tape under excessive tension. Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

The invention consists in the novel features, arrangements, combinations of parts and electrical circuits embodiedby way of example in the apparatus herein described, as illustrating preferred forms of devices, together with such novel methods and steps of processes as are hereinafter described.

In some respects, this application is a continuation in part of my ending application Serial No. 265,345, filed Edarch 28, 1928.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the entire arrangement of one embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan and elevational views respectively of certain mechanism included in the arrangement of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, this section being taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 parts of Fig. 4 have been isolated for clearness to show how the electrical circuit thereof are energized under various conditions.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown diagrammatically at 10 a ticker which may be of any well known form, such as now widely used for giving market quotations. make and break switch 11 is associated with the ticker which, as will be explained, controls the normal operation of the tape feeding apparatus. As the ticker printing proceeds, the switch 11 is operated by a ticker 1928. Serial No. 286,905.

tinuously maintains a loop as at '15. Thence the tape may pass under a constant tension spring 16 and through a suitable well known form of projector apparatus 17 for projecting an enlarged image of the quotations printed on the tape. From the projector the tape may proceed to a tape puller roller as at 18, which may be rotated by an electric motor 19 operating through a, suitable geai box 20. The constant tension spring 16 is pressed against the ta e so that from that point to the puller ro ler the tape is constantly maintained under tension and any loop that accumulates in the tape must occur between the ticker and the tension spring. Such loop will necessarily form at that point, since as hereinafter explained, the tape is fed from the ticker at a rate slightly greater than that at which it is normally fed through the projector by the puller roller.

A shaft 21 extending from the gear box 20 may be mechanically connected so as to operate a rotatable switch member 22 and also a disc 23 formed of magnetic material and cooperating with a core member 24 of the magnet coil 13in a manner hereinafter described.

The circuit of the motor 19 may include a source of power as shown, an adjustable resistance 25, and switches at 26 and 27 under the control of the core member'24. Whenever both of the switches 26 and 27 are in closed circuit position, the motor 19 will be operated at a speed depending upon the adustment of the resistance 25. The switches 26 and 27 in turn are controlled by the conditionof the switch '11 so that as the ticker printing proceeds, the switch 11, together with one or both of the switches 26 and 27, will be intermittently operated so as to impulsively energize the motor 19. The resist- I ance 25 is preferably so adjusted that the take-up motor is controlled, with reference to sion on the tape as in prior art. de-

vices. Although the resistance 25 may be adjusted so that the motor will be impulsively energized to take up the tape very nearly as fast as the tape is ejected from the ticker, yet it is impossible as a practical matter to adjust the motor to feed the tape at precisely the rate at which it issues from the ticker. Therefore, to prevent any possibility of excessive strain on the tape, this apparatus provides for moving the tape at a slightly slower rate than that at which it is ejected by the ticker.

The manner in which the switches 26 and 27 are intermittently operated will now be explained in detail. When the switch 11 closes and the coil 13 is energized, the core member 24 becomes magnetized and attracts a switch operating armature member 28, closing the switch 27, and inasmuch as the switch 26 is normally closed, the motor 19 will be energized. However, the ticker press lever 12 oscillates up and down with the printing of each character and accordingly the switch 11 remains closed only momentarily at the time each character is printed. Accordingly the coil 13 is likewise energized intermittently and the switch 27 is closed and opened at the printing of each character and the motor 19 is impulsively energized to the desired corresponding degree.

At times however, especially during market inactivity, the press lever 12 will come to rest in active position and remain in that position during a considerableinteryal until the next character is printed, thus holding the switch 11 closed during a corresponding period. In the absence of switch 26 this would result in the continued operation of the motor 19 notwithstanding the fact that the tape would not be then issuing from the ticker. Tovprevent abnormal operation of the motor under these circumstances, the switch 26 comes into play,

and opens'the motor circuit as soon as the motor rotates the shaft 21 through a predetermined an le. As above stated, the core member 24 ecomes magnetized when the switch 11 is closed. The core member 24 may be provided with a portion 29 extending into close proximity of the surface of the disc 23,

member 24 may be pivotally mounted as at 30 and also may be provided with a switch operating insulation piece 31 so that whenever the core member 24 turns through a sufficient angle in a clockwise direction, the

switch 26 is opened.' Now, when the disc 23 1s advanced through asuflicient angle upon rotation of the shaft21, the disc will tend to 3 the motor. However, during the normal intermittent operation of the switch 11, the core member 24 will not remain magnetized a sufficient length of time to permit the disc 23 to function in this way, but so long as the switch 11 is held closed during an abnormal length of time, the motor circuit will be maintained open at the switch 26 in the manner above described. lVhen the switch 11 opens again and the core 24 is deenergized, the core member as well as the switch 26 will spring back to normal. A

With the apparatus as thus far described, the loop 15 in the tape in time will become undesirably long. That is, it will become so long that the stock, quotations as printed on the ticker will not be projected as promptly as it is desirable, but they will be, as it were, stored up inthe loop. When the loop thus becomes unduly long, a contactlever 32 resting in the loop comes into operation for the first time. Its contacts as at 33 will then close a circuit energizing a stick relay 34. The relay -34 thereupon establishes a motor circuit running through relay holding contact 35 and brushes 36 and 37 operating in conjunction with rotary switch member 22, Itwill be observed that the switch member 22 has an insulating segment at 38. If the brush 36 is in contact with insulation segment 38 at the moment the loop switch 33 is closed upon the occurrence of an excessive loop, then the circuit of relay 34 will not be established until the motor is impulsively energized in the normal way to a sufiicient extent to turn the disc 22 so as to complete thecircuit for magnetically coacting therewith, the disc llPOIl the motor circuit through the relay 34 23 being of magnetic material. The core and its holding switch will be broken and normal operation of the apparatus under the control 0 switch 11 will be restored. Meanwhile, however, the motor will have been permitted to rotate the shaft 21 and the tape pullerlS through an extra revolution, thus absorbing the abnormal accumulation of tape at the loop 15. It will be observed, however, that the tape switch 33 can function only to establish the circuit providing for the extra revolution of the tape puller. The tape switch is never relied upon to stop the motor and cannot under any circumstances function to do so. Accordingly if the relatively delicate loop operated switch parts should fall out of proper adjustment, still the motor will be automatically prevented from overrunning and will continue to operate at a safe speed under the control of the ticker switch 11 and without any, danger of applying a breaking tension to the tape. When the tape loop is shallow and also both when it is accumulating and decreasing, it takes no part whatever in the control of the motor. The tape is never placed under tension at the contact arm because at least a shallow loop is always maintained due to the rela- F tively slow speed of the motor as compared with the ticker.

The mechanical details shown in Figs. 2.

the top of Fig. 2. I find it convenient to actually drive the rotar switch 22 from the shaft 21 through asui able reduction gear as at 39, having for example a two-to-one ratio. In that event, a pair of the insulation segments 38 may be provided at diagonally opposite points on the disc 22 so that the circuit of relay 34 will be open at the completion of not'more than one extra revolution of the tape puller notwithstanding the inter osing of the reduction gear'39. A desirab e mechanical disposition of the brushes 36 and 37 in connection with thediscs 22 and 23 is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. These discs may be mounted upon a rotatable shaft 40 carried in suitable bearings as at 41 and 42 upon a. frame member 43 The brushes 36 and 37 may be mounted -on an insulatlon arm 44. The relay 34 is shown also mounted upon the frame member 43. The core member 24 and associatedparts are designated in Figs. 2 and 3 by the same reference characters as in Fig. 1. The end of the core member 24 adjacent the armature 28 may preferably be rovided with a copper cap member as at 45 $01 preventing any tendency of the armature to stick to the core as a result of residual mag netism therein. The core member 24 may be retained in its elevatedposition by a spring,

as at 46, the tension of which may be suitably adjusted by the adjusting screws 47. The upper limit of movement of the core member may be adjusted by an eccentrically and adjustably mounted insulation piece 48. The

downward movement of the switch 26 and consequently also of the core 24 may be. determined and adjusted by an eccentrically mounted insulation member 49'.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4-8 inclusive will now be described. In Fig. 4 the ticker 10, the make and break switch 11, ticker press lever 12, the tape 14, the tape loop 15, tension spring 16, projector 17 tape puller 18, tape lever 32 and the tape switch 33, also the motor 19, gear box 20 and motor resistance 25, are all indicated in substantially the same form as above described.

When the contacts 11 come together, a circuit is completed from the source of power through a magnet 50. The magnet'50 operates step-by-step a star wheel and fork escapement 51 for rotating a contact carrying disc 52. The motor driven shaft 21 carries rotate with the shaft 21, as rotated by the motor, and independently of the rotation of the disc 52, as will more clearly appear from ig. 5. However, all three of these discs are rotated in the same direction as indicatedby the arrows. Also, these discs are all formed of conductive material except that they are insulated from each other and disc 54 has an insulating segment as at 55 and disc 53 has an insulating'shelf as at 56. Disc 52 is always connected to' the motor circuit through a brush 57, a wire 58, the current source and'resistance'25, the return circuit from the motor running through a wire 59 and a brush 60 to disc 54. Now, discs 54 and 52 are electrically connected to complete this circuit by a brush 61 except when this brush comes to rest on insulating segment 55. In Fig. 4 the parts are shown at rest, the motor circuit being deenergized because contact 61 is on the insulation segment 55.

The ticker in printing the first few characters will operate the contactdr 11 and thus energize the magnet 50- a correspondingnumber of times, which in turn will advance the disc 52 step-by-step, far enough to remove contact 61 from segment 55 and then the motor circuit will be completed, as is obvious from Fig. 6. The motor therefore starts and feeds the tape through the projector and also rotates discs 53 and 541 The motor will thus continue in operatiori while a few characters are printed and until, when theticker pauses, disc 54 overtakes disc 52, whereupon the motor circuit will be opened at the insulation segment 55 and the parts will be again at rest as in Fig. 4 until additional characters are printed; These operations will be repeated and the disc 52 will intermittently advance and be overtaken by the disc 54, thus intermittently opening and closing the motor circuit as the ticker operates. This constitutes the the resistance is so adj ust/ed that with this normal operation, the tape will be fed through the projector at a slightly slower rate than that at which it emerges from the ticker. Therefore, the'initial loop 15 as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 will gradually increase as indicated by the dotted lines. When it becomes thus undesirably long, and only at such times, it is shortened in the following manner.

When the loop becomes unduly long, as indicated in dotted lines, the loop switch 33 is permitted to close as in Fig, 7. This is the only time that the loop contact arm has any function in the operation of the apparatus. Thisclosing of the contacts 33, which isonly momentary and at the maximum depth-of the loop, completes the branch circuit to the motor as shown in Fig. 7, comprising wire 59, connections 62 to and from the contacts 33, a brush 63 engaging disc 53, and thence through a spring pressed plunger contact 64 to disc 52, thence through brush 57 and wire 58 back to the motor. At the moment this circuit is closed the motorv will be energized regardless of the condition of the normal motor impulsing circuit and this initiates an extra revolution of the tape puller roller. The motor thus energized rotates the disc 54 in advance of the disc 52, (Fig. 8). so that the brush 61 lags back of the insulation segment 55. At the same time the motor will be causing the tape to be fed and the loop to be raised, but immediately upon a slight reduction in thedepth of the loop the contacts 33 will be opened again but without arresting the motor. The-disc 54-being in advance of disc 52, the motor will continue to be energized through the circuit of Fig. 8 and independently of the loop controlled circuit, until the disc 54 advances "through one cpm- Dlete revolution in respect to the disc' 52.

That is, the disc 54, when thus advanced,

will remain in advance of disc 52 until insulation segment 55 completes a revolution so as to arrive again in engagement with contact 61 for openingthe motor circuit. In the meantim the motor will have rotated the tape puller through an extra revolution which serves to reduce the loop to normal proportions. nder-no c rcumstances can the contacts 33 at the loop take any part in the control of the duration of this extra revolution nor in stopping the motor after such extra revolution. The closing of the contacts' 33 on the accumulation of a deep loop merely initiates the extrarevolution The opening of the circuit through contacts 33 serves no function in the operation: the motor continues to operate thereafter andulntil the extra revolution is completed. The spring pressed plunger contact 64 cooperates insulated. the circuit of Fig. 7 cannot be es' normal motor circuit and the momentary motor circuit of Fig. 7 would be kept open respectively by the insulation se ment 55 and the insulation shelf 56 until t e circuit of magnet 50 is repaired. F The operation of the plunger contact 64 is as follows: During the normal operation of the apparatus, an offset portion of the plunger contact 64 rides upon the inside of alaterally projecting peripheral flange on 89 the disc as in Fig; 4, and Without interference with the insulation shelf 56. Then, when the disc 53 is being rotated the extra revolution in advance of the disc 52, the plunger 64 will continue to ride upon the peripheral flange at the edge of disc 53 until an inwardly directed spiral flange member is reached. The plunger member then will be gradually pressed radially toward the center of the disc as it rides up onto the spiral member .65, and upon completion of the extra revolution, the plunger will drop from the end of the spiral member onto the insulation shelf 56. With the plunger thus tablished regardless of the condition of the contact arm at theloop. Before this circuit can be reestablished, the normal motor impulsing circuit of 6 must be brought into operation, whereupon the plunger 64 will drop from the insulation shelf into contact again with the disc .53, as in Fig. 4.

The motor is therefore always under the control of the disc switch device, which in turn is always solely under the control of the ticker switch 11 except for the moments when the extra revolutions are'initiated by reason ofthe excessive depth of the loop. When the tape loop is shallow and also both when it is accumulating and -decreasing,.it takes no part whatever in the control of the; motor. The tape. is never placed under tension at the contact--arm because at least a shallow loop is always maintained due to the relatively slow speed of the motor as compared with the ticker, as in the embodiment first described.-

Also in both of the embodiments-the progress of the.tape through the projector is cons trolled directly by the mechanism which operates the ticker, so that the contact arm in the loop has no action whatever in the normal operation of the device and is not relied upon for such purpose. V

The usual practice as followed .in the*de-' f" sign of apparatus of this general type may be followedas to'- constructional details which are not above specifically referred to or shown in the schematic diagrams.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain preferred examples thereof which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a ticker, a motor, tape pulling means operated by said motor for feeding tape with respect to a projector, an operating circuit for said motor, and a switch controlled directly by the ticker printing mechanism whereby sald motor. circuit. is impulsively energized to cause the tape pulling means to advance the tape with respect to said projector each time that a character is printed by the ticker.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a ticker, a motor, tape pulling means operated by said motor for feeding tape with respect toa projector, an operating circuit for said motor, a switch controlled directly by the ticker printing mechanism whereby said motor circuit is impulsively energized to cause the tape pulling means to advance the tape with respect to said projector each time that a character is printed by thegticker, and means for adjusting the operation of said motor whereby tape will be normally fed by thetape puller at a rate slightly slower than the rate at which the tape is ejected from the ticker.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a ticker, and means for normally advancing the tape emitted therefrom through a projector in step with the ejection of the tape from the ticker but at a slightly slower rate.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a ticker, means for normally advancing the tape emitted therefrom through a projector in step with the ejection of the tape from tbe ticker but at a slightly slower rate whereby a loop accumulates in the tape, and means for causing said loop to accumulate between the ticker and the projector.

5. Inapparatus of the class described, a ticker, means for normally advancin the tape emitted therefrom through a pro ector in step with the ejection of the tape from the ticker but at a'slightly slower rate whereby a loop accumulates in the tape, means for causing said loop to accumulate betweenthe ticker and the projector, and means operative when the loop becomes abnormally long for advancing the accumulated tape inthe loop through the projector to shorten the loop.

6. Ticker tape feeding apparatus comprising in combination a quotation ticker, motor driven means for feeding the tape ejected from the ticker, and means cooperating with the ticker mechanism and adjustable to cause said feeding means to normally feed the tape at a rate slower than the rate atwhich the tape is ejected from the ticker. v

7 Ticker tape feeding apparatus compris ing in combination a quotation ticker, motor driven means for feeding the tape ejected from the ticker, means cooperating with the ticker mechanism and adjustable to cause said feeding means to normally feed the ta e at a rate slower than the rate at which t e tape is ejected from the ticker, and means controlled by excess accumulations of tape between the feeding means and ticker for imparting additional movement to said feeding means.

8. Ticker tape feeding apparatus compris ing in combination a quotation ticker, motor driven means for feeding the tape ejected from the ticker, means cooperating with the ticker mechanism and adjustable to cause said feeding means to normally feed the tape at a rate slower than the rate at which the tape is ejected from the ticker, means controlled by excess accumulations of tape between the feeding means and ticker for impart-ing additional movement to said feeding means, and means operated by said motor driven means itself for terminating such additional movement.

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination means for printing characters on atape, motor driven means I for drawing the tape through aprojecting means, a circuit including a ma netically controlled switch for the motor, an a second circuit intermittently opened and closed by the operation of said printing means and for controlling said magnetic switch.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combination means for printing characters on a tape, motor driven means for drawing the tape through a projecting means, a circuit including a magnetically controlled switch for the motor, a second circuit intermittently opened and closed by the operation of said printing means and for controlling said magnetic switch, and means operated by the motor for opening its circuit whenever said second circuit remains closed longer than a predetermined short interval. 11. Apparatus of the character described comprising in combinations means for printing characters on a tape, motor driven means for drawing the tape through a projecting means at arate slower than the tape is delivered by the printing means whereby a loop accumulates in the tape, a normal motor circuit, and an auxiliary motor circuit for imparting extra movement to said motor driven means to cause it to'abso'rb abnormal accumulations of tape in said loop, said auxiliary circuit having switch means closed upon the accumulation of a large loop.

12. In apparatus of the class described,

means for ejecting tape, motor driven means for gathering up the tape at a rate slower than its ejection whereby a loop is formed in the tape, and a circuit for imparting extra movement to said motor driven means to reduce the size of said loop, said circuit having a switch operated to close the circuit when the loop reaches a predetermined size, and holding means under the control of the motor itself for. maintaining said circuit closed until a predetermined time and independently of the condition of said switch.

, 13. The method of recording on and controlling movement of a tape, which comprises forming indicia on an intermittently moving tape in response to operation of a device, and moving said tape through a projection field under the control of said device and another function of tape movement.

14:. In combination, a device for forming lndicia on a tape, and means for moving said tape through a projection field, said means operating either under the control of sai device or independently thereof.

15. The combination with a device for forming indicia on atape, and a motor for .movlng said tape through a projection field, of members movable with respect to each other, respectively, in accordance with the operative speeds of said device and motor, said members when in certain relative positions efi'ecting energization of said motor.

16. 'Ihe combination with a device for formlng indicia on a tape, and a motor for movlng said tape through a projection field, of members movable with respect to each other, respectively, in accordance with the operative speeds of said device and motor,

said members when in certain relative positlons efl'ectlng energization of sald motor,

said motor being deenergized when said members are in certain other relative positions.

17. In combination, a data recording dev1ce, means for forming a loop inthe tape ejected from said data recording device, means for feeding said tape through a procontrolled by the press arm of aid device, and means to continue the feeding of the tape when the loop has increased in size and independently of the control of said press arm.

18. Incombination, a data recording device, a motor mechanism for feeding tape issuing therefrom through a projection re gion, said mechanism controlled by said device, and means to cause continuous operw tion of said feed mechanism when said de.-

vice operates faster than said feed mechanism until the excess amount of tape ejected by said device has been taken up.

19, In combination, a data recording device, a motor mechanism for feeding tape issuing therefrom through a projection region, said. means controlled by said device,

and a tape loop switch to cause continuous means to continue the feeding of the tape when the loop has increased in size. ection region, said first named means being operation of said feed mechanism when said N jectionregion, and means for discontinuing the control exercised by said device on said first named means, said second named means becoming operative in response to accumu lation of tape in a region along the path thereof.

22. In combination, a device for forming indicia on a tape, an electric motor comprising. rotatable structure for movin said tape through a projection region, said evice periodically energizing said motor in accordance I with the indicia-forming speed thereof, and

means for discontinuing the control enercised by said device on said motor.

23. In combination, a device for forming indicia on a tape, an electric motor comprising rotatable structure for moving said tape through a projection region, said device periodically closing an electrical circuit of said motor in accordance with the indicia-forming speed thereof, and means for discontinuing the control exercised by said device on sald V motor, said means comprising. a supplementary circuit closed during accumulation of tape in a region along the path thereof.

24. In combination, a data recording device, means'for forming a loop in the tape ejected from said data recording device, means for feeding said tape through a projection region, said first named'means being controlled by the press arm of said device, and

when theloop has increased in size, and thereby continue the feeding of the tape until the excess in the loop-has been taken up.

26. In combination, a data recording device, means for forming a loop in the tape ejected from said data recording device, means for feeding said tape through a projection region, said firstnamed means being controlled by the press arm of said device,

iihe feeding of the tape and means to continue the feeding of the tape when the loop has increased in slze, said second named means being controlled independe ently of said first named means. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY H. LYNN. 

